Scott Jerbi
Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Expertise
Scott has over two decades of experience working on business and human rights issues with the United Nations and in academic and civil society roles. His published work focuses on public-private standard setting and multi-stakeholder governance initiatives addressing human rights challenges.
Current Work
Scott is IHRB's representative in Washington, DC where he contributes to a range of activities across the organisation. He also serves as Senior Advisor to the Geneva based Centre for Sport and Human Rights.
Before IHRB
From 1997 to 2002 Scott worked in the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights where his duties included development of the Office’s policies and interactions with the private sector. From 2002 to 2010 Scott served as Senior Adviser to former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
15 June 2020
19 March 2019
There are currently no Meeting Reports by Scott Jerbi
Commentary: Existential risk or tool for inclusive prosperity? AI’s future needs human rights
Headlines are currently dominated by record-breaking heatwaves, catastrophic flooding, massive wildfires, and other extreme weather patterns in many regions. Responding to the climate crisis requires unprecedented actions and new forms of...
28 July 2023
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: On the Side of Humanity? Human Rights a Missing Link in COVID-19 Vaccine Strategies
Heartbreaking scenes in India, of people facing serious illness and death during a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 infections now spreading to other countries in South Asia, are a painful reality check on how much work is still ahead to stop the...
10 May 2021
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Black Lives Matter - A Moral Moment
Black Lives Matter
IHRB is founded on a mission of equality and dignity for all. We seek always to be as inclusive as possible – in our research, outputs, convenings, and partnerships. But we recognise that we have not done enough to contribute to...
15 June 2020
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Contending with the Coronavirus - What Should we Expect of Business During Global Health Emergencies?
In her opening statement last week to the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet stressed that the unfolding coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak constituted “a serious threat to the rights to life and to health of...
02 March 2020
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Business Responsibilities Increasingly on UN Human Rights Council’s Agenda
The 41st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council got underway in Geneva last week with a full plate of urgent issues to address. Ongoing conflicts from Syria to Venezuela are on the agenda alongside worrying global trends like...
04 July 2019
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Dangerous Words, Deadly Weapons
Business Leadership Needed to Confront Growing Extremism
The horrific killing of at least 50 people in two New Zealand mosques is a tragic reminder of twin viruses attacking our societies - growing anti-immigrant, nationalist and racist rhetoric...
19 March 2019 By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Confronting Chaos and Confusion on Child and Migrant Rights
The US business community faces a tragedy at home.
In the same week that the United States (US) government announced its withdrawal from the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council and the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty issued an...
26 June 2018
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Facebook’s Problem with Political Ads - Can Human Rights Due Diligence Help?
Last week, in response to growing public pressure, social media giant Facebook agreed to provide information to U.S. Congressional investigators on advertising purchased by Russian-linked accounts seeking to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential...
28 September 2017
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: From Deal Maker to Diplomat? Business and Human Rights Questions for Rex Tillerson
What does the nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be the next United States Secretary of State mean for the business and human rights agenda?
The selection of Mr. Tillerson is the latest move by a President-elect who campaigned on the...
19 December 2016
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Time to deliver on responsible supply chain commitments
As G7 leaders meet in Japan later this week, will we see scaled up joint action to ensure that all business activity, wherever it takes place, is undertaken in ways that respect the rights of workers and communities and enhance economic,...
26 May 2016
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Do Climate Negotiations Offer Lessons for UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights?
Last week, representatives from nearly 200 countries adopted a draft text on combating climate change, an important step toward a new global treaty world leaders hope to agree in Paris this December.
The 86-page text agreed in Geneva contains a...
19 February 2015
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: New UN Human Rights Commissioner Needs to Get Down to Business
This piece was originally published on OpenDemocracy.net
Amidst many priorities, the High Commissioner must focus on the problem of ensuring companies respect human rights, at a moment when a hard fought consensus on how to do so is at risk of...
22 July 2014
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB, Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB
Commentary: UN Adopts Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights - What Comes Next?
The unfolding business and human rights story reached an important threshold this week with the unanimous endorsement by the United Nations Human Rights Council of Guiding Principles for the implementation of the UN’s Protect, Respect, Remedy policy...
17 June 2011
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Are Companies Ready to Implement UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights?
The much anticipated Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights prepared by United Nations Special Representative John Ruggie to implement the UN 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework on business and human rights were released in final form...
31 March 2011
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Commentary: Food Security and the Private Sector - Thinking about Human Rights?
This week the UN released its latest findings on the extent of world hunger. The report – marking World Food Day 2009 and its theme - "Achieving food security in times of crisis" - makes for grim reading.
More than one billion people around the...
16 September 2009
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
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Commentary: How should businesses respond to an age of conflict and uncertainty?
As 2024 began, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aptly summed up our deeply worrying collective moment. As she put it, speaking at the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland, we are moving through “an era of conflict and...
26 March 2024
By Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB